Writes of Passage

The play Parting Gestures is a part of a project — started after the Delhi gang rape — that brings together women writers and directors.

A scene from the play.

When women directors take up writings by women playwrights for the stage, does it shift the centre of axis somewhere? To this, Delhi-based theatre group Yellowcat’s latest project, Women by Women, might contain a clue if not an answer. Parting Gestures, one of the plays that make up the project, will be staged at Instituto Cervantes on Saturday.

“We came up with the idea after December 2012, starting with six plays over this year before graduating to original writing,” says Sukhesh Arora of Yellowcat, whose previous works include The Imaginary Life of Dogs, a story about stories, human desires and talking canines, and Long Night of Theatre, a 24-hour workshop on creating a performance. Parting Gestures is the second Women by Women play.

The play by Spanish writer Paloma Pedrero is a triptych of the stories The Colour of August, The Voucher and A Night in the Subway. Director Manjari Kaul says, “These are stories about urban realities and their shifts. In The Colour of August, two artists, a teacher and a student, meet after eight years. The younger one has done well for herself, the teacher, however, hasn’t and this tension unfolds them and casts a shadow over their friendship.” The Voucher, on the other hand, is about a separated couple fighting to keep their dog, throwing up questions of ownership as well as love and fidelity. A battle of a different kind — of class and gender — mark A Night in the Subway in which an upper-class woman finds herself locked in a subway with a labour-class man. “She immediately thinks that he is a thug and would loot her but as time passes, their relationship begins to change,” says Kaul.

Kaul, 27, a professional artiste with the group Improper Fractions, was drawn to the “urban realities” of Pedrero’s stories. “I applied to direct the play after coming across a post on Yellowcat’s website. Of the five plays I was offered, I selected this one because each story has an interesting push and pull happening between the characters,” she says. The rhythms of a city form the soundscape of the play as Kaul stays true to her theatre philosophy that “there is no holistic theatre, merely unresolvable conflicts, points of view and other bits that hang together even when they don’t fit together”.

Parting Gestures will be staged at Instituto Cervantes on Saturday. Contact: 43681907

Dipanita Nath

Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life. Professional Background Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint. Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series). Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season: 1. Climate & Environment "Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week. "How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site. "Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner. 2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage "Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle. "Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport. "The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle. 3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc" "Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema. "Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups. "How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor. Signature Style Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune. X (Twitter): @dipanitanath ... Read More

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